New Delhi’s long-standing claims regarding Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir have gained significant international weight following a fresh report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS). The 2026 report explicitly states that Pakistan remains a sanctuary for numerous militant organizations aimed at destabilizing India, particularly targeting the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Key Findings of the US Report: According to the CRS brief, at least 12 of the 15 designated terrorist organizations identified as regional threats are based in Pakistan. Groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen continue to operate, recruit, and train cadres on Pakistani soil. The report highlights a dangerous shift in tactics, with the emergence of proxies like ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF), which carry out targeted assassinations to evade international scrutiny. The 2025 Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives, was cited as a stark example of how these groups remain a catalyst for regional crisis.

India’s Diplomatic Push: India has welcomed the findings, stating that the report exposes Pakistan’s failure to dismantle its terror infrastructure despite repeated warnings from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Recent operations by J&K Police have unearthed multiple recruitment modules handled by Pakistan-based terrorists using encrypted communication. New Delhi is expected to use this official U.S. document to advocate for stricter international monitoring and sanctions against Islamabad.

Implications for Regional Stability: The report warns that as Pakistan faces internal turmoil from the TTP and IS-K, its establishment might escalate proxy wars in Kashmir to divert domestic attention. This increases the risk of a military standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. For India, the report serves as a validation of its “zero tolerance” policy toward terrorism and solidifies its counter-terrorism cooperation with Washington, especially following the major 2025 cross-border skirmishes.